About the G sharp Harmonic Minor scale
G sharp Harmonic Minor is used for classical minor keys, flamenco, metal and Middle Eastern melodies. Think of it as a minor scale with a dramatic raised seventh, the backbone of classical minor keys.
Its notes are G♯, A♯, B, C♯, D♯, E, and F♯♯. The formula is W H W W H 1½ H.
Also called Keeravani and Kirwani.
The black keys G♯, A♯, C♯, and D♯ belong to the mode.
Chords in the key of G sharp Harmonic Minor
Expand a chord to see how to play it.
i G sharp minor
G sharp minor over B (1st inversion)
ii° A sharp diminished
A sharp diminished over C sharp (1st inversion)
III+ B augmented
B augmented over D sharp (1st inversion)
iv C sharp minor
C sharp minor over E (1st inversion)
V D sharp
D sharp over F double sharp (1st inversion)
VI E
E over G sharp (1st inversion)
vii° F double sharp diminished
F double sharp diminished over A sharp (1st inversion)
Seventh chords in G sharp Harmonic Minor
The four-note version of each chord, richer and jazzier.
i G sharp minor major seven
G sharp minor major seven
ii° A sharp minor seven flat five
A sharp minor seven flat five
III+ B major seven sharp five
B major seven sharp five
iv C sharp minor seven
C sharp minor seven
V D sharp seven
D sharp seven
VI E major seven
E major seven
vii° F double sharp diminished seven
F double sharp diminished seven
Progressions in G sharp Harmonic Minor
Tap any chord to hear it, or play the whole progression.
Notes and intervals
| 1 | G#G♯ | Root |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | A#A♯ | Major 2nd |
| 3 | BB | Minor 3rd |
| 4 | C#C♯ | Perfect 4th |
| 5 | D#D♯ | Perfect 5th |
| 6 | EE | Minor 6th |
| 7 | F##F♯♯ | Major 7th |
| Steps | W H W W H 1½ H |
|---|---|
| Semitones | 2-1-2-2-1-3-1 |
| Degrees | 1 2 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 7 |
Fingering
Standard fingering
| Hand | G sharp | A sharp | B | C sharp | D sharp | E | F double sharp | G sharp |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 3 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Left hand | 3 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
Practicing it
Going up, the right hand passes its thumb under on B and E. Going up, the left hand crosses over after its thumb plays B and F♯♯. The long fingers cover the black keys G♯, A♯, C♯, and D♯, with the fourth finger anchoring on A♯, and the hand sits forward on the keyboard to keep them there.
Shapes
Chromatic
Circle of Fifths
Related scales
Harmonic Minor in other keys
Modes
The same notes, starting on a different note.